Chapter 2
Shells Town didn't change overnight.
Fear still lingered in the streets. Marines still walked with stiff backs and nervous eyes. But something was different. The air itself felt tense, like the world was holding its breath.
The protagonist leaned against a wooden building, watching from the shadows.
Luffy was exactly as the stories said. Loud. Smiling. Completely unafraid. He argued with Marines like they were old friends and strangers at the same time. Zoro, tied to the post, hadn't moved much, but his presence dominated the square. Even starving, he felt dangerous.
So this is how it starts, the protagonist thought.
The Omnitrix rested quietly on his wrist, warm against his skin.
System scan complete, the voice said in his head.
Hybrid world confirmed. Threat level: escalating.
A scream cut through the noise.
From the edge of town, something burst through a wooden fence. It wasn't a normal animal. It looked like a boar, but larger, its muscles layered like armor. Its tusks curved forward, serrated, dripping saliva that hissed when it hit the ground.
A Gourmet Beast.
People scattered instantly.
Marines raised rifles, hands shaking. They fired. The bullets barely slowed it down.
The beast charged straight toward the execution yard.
Luffy's head snapped in its direction. His eyes lit up, not with fear, but excitement.
"Whoa! That thing looks strong!"
Zoro grinned through cracked lips. "Tch. Figures."
The protagonist exhaled slowly.
No more waiting.
His thumb slammed down on the Omnitrix.
Green light exploded outward, forcing nearby Marines to shield their eyes. His body twisted, expanded, hardened. Bones restructured. Muscles stacked upon muscles.
When the light faded, something massive stood where the seventeen-year-old had been.
Four arms. Red skin. A frame built for war.
Transformation complete: Tetramand.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he stepped forward.
The boar roared and charged.
He met it head-on.
The impact sounded like cannon fire. One of his fists slammed into the beast's skull, stopping it mid-charge. The creature screeched, swinging its tusks wildly, carving deep trenches into the ground.
He grabbed both tusks with his upper arms and lifted.
The beast thrashed, but it was too late.
With a sharp twist and a downward slam, he drove it into the dirt. The shockwave rattled nearby buildings. Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
Then cheering. Confused. Nervous. Amazed.
The protagonist looked down at the unconscious beast, then at the Marines frozen in place.
Luffy stared at him with wide eyes.
"That was AWESOME!" Luffy shouted. "Hey! Are you a pirate?"
The protagonist felt the Omnitrix timer begin to tick down.
Green light flashed again, and his body shrank back to human form. He stood there, breathing hard, clothes torn, wrist device still glowing faintly.
"Not yet," he said.
Zoro laughed, low and rough. "Heh. Interesting guy."
The system spoke again.
Combat data recorded.
New biological samples detected.
Alien unlock progress: 3%.
The protagonist smiled.
This world didn't care who you were.
Only how strong you could become.
And he had just taken his first step.